Mary Russell was born on December 23, 1818 in Salisburry, Connecticut the daughter of William Pew Russell; attended Catherine Beecher Stowe's "Hartford Female Seminary"; taught by Harriet Beecher Stowe; taught school; married Henry Chapin Jewell on October 1, 1833 in Connecticut; Sunday School teacher: occasional wrote for Oshkosh papers: President of Ladies Aid Society during Civil War: two children lived to adulthood: Mary Elanor Jewell Sawyer, wife of Edgar Sawyer, and Henry Augustus; emigrated to Wisconsin 1843; Algoma in 1848; died in Oshkosh on June 23, 1889.

Classification

Archives

Collection

Edgar Philetus and Mary Eleanor Jewell Sawyer

Dates of Accumulation

March 12, 1865

Abstract

Letter from Mary Ann Russell Jewell to her daughter Mary Eleanor Jewell Sawyer. She discusses news of family & Friends and a visit to Ames Cannon Foundry.

Salisbury, March 12, 1865Sunday evening

Dear Mary & Edgar, I know you feel anxious to hear from us or I should not spend the time to write you, because I feel that every hour belongs to Grand Pa. We had a good journey and arrived here safely Wednesday 2 PM. I cannot tell you how glad your Grand Pa was to see us. He wept aloud, although I made no manifestation of my emotion as I thought it might overwhelm him. I find him much as I expected very feeble in body & mind, yet has his perfect reason. He sits a part of the time in a deep sleep, but suddenly arouses and is anxious to converse on any subject. [He] talks much of dying and the necessity of being ready-good. Jon & Lee comes in and prays with us every day and is well received & appreciated by all the family. The rest of the family are well. Children sweet & pretty as they can be. Nellie talks just enough to be pretty & cunning. Aunt Lorine is very well & gets along nicely. She says give my love to Mary and says she has not recovered from her disappointment in not seeing you last fall. John Coffing called here yesterday P.M. We had a pleasant call, he is here on account of old Mrs. Coffing's dangerous illness. Rebecca is expected tomorrow or next day. Eliza came here in the morning yesterday & spent most of the day. We had a first rate visit together. She thanks you for the music much. She is just as good as ever. We attended [illegible] Church this morning, saw many of our friends all seemed glad to see us & all seemed to rejoice that we had come on Papa's account particularly. All say he has mourned so much because I did not come. Mary Jewell said this noon that she & Oliver talked seriously of writing to me to come immediately but feared we could not. Everybody inquires about you and sends love to you when I write, but I cannot mention names or I would use all my paper. Aunt Lorine & Grand Pa have each had letters from Marcella since we came. Grand Pa had an excellent letter last evening written 8 March & she had not then received any letter written the evening I left home informing her that I was coming. But she wrote to him that she knew I should start as soon as I should get her letter. She had a nice visit with Rebecca Coffing etc. & enjoyed it exceedingly. Your Father has just called at George Coffing's and Mrs. C. is failing slowly. John wished to have Father go up home with him tomorrow & as Uncle Phineas is very feeble I think he will go and go and see him. Of course I shall not have Papa, but little of at all, he seems to enjoy every moment we are with him as we sit here alone he says how glad I am that you are with me & often weeps with emotion. I have made no calculations as to the time we stay but should be glad if I could the remnant of his life.

Monday A.M. I hurried up to write a little more this morning before anyone is up. Papa had a restless night, but is sleeping just now. He is usually not as comfortable in bed & hence prefers sitting in his easy chair. He does not lie down at all in the day. He is so much troubled for breath, when in bed, and is obliged to almost sit up. Then he likes company so 'tis pleasant to have our friends call often. I am not needed for anything about the house & only devote myself to Papa & am ready to speak to him whenever he awakens. He speaks often of you & Henry [and] is sorry we did not write your Father to come and see us. Aunt M. said they had looked at all the registers of the City, but had not found his name and hoped to see him. They live at Alexandria. We have been saluted with Ames' big guns, wrought iron Cannon. They have been proving them from twenty to forty pounds powder at a charge. So you will imagine they jarred us some. [They] throw a [cannon] ball seven miles. Uncle Hiram & Father went over yesterday over yesterday to see them & was much pleased with his trip. I have said nothing of home affairs but trust you are all getting along nicely & do not intend to worry at all. Hope you will go over.

[Written on side of page 4] I think of you often & hope you are all well & happy. You must not expect me to write often as I do not think I ought to take up all my time writing.

[Written on side of page 1] Father was delighted with your luncheon and we enjoyed the eggs & meat, but brought the cake to Grand Pa, who eats it every night for tea. Love to you Father & Mother and all friends & with ___to you both I am as ever Your Aft. Mother Mrs. A. Jewell, Write often.